You found the machine or the spare parts you need in the United States. The supplier quotes you "EXW warehouse", does not know what a certificate of origin is, and on top of that you have spent months reading about tariffs.
In short: to import from the United States to Chile you pay 0% duty if the goods originate in that country under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA, Tratado de Libre Comercio), and 19% VAT (IVA) in every case. The certification of origin has no mandatory form and can be signed by the importer, the exporter or the producer. The tariffs the United States applied in 2025 and 2026 are charged on goods entering that country: they affect whoever exports from Chile, not whoever imports into Chile.
How much duty you pay under the Chile-United States FTA
The agreement has been in force since 2004 and completed its tariff reduction schedule in 2015, so today originating goods enter at 0% duty. Without the preference, you pay the general 6% duty on the CIF value (goods, freight and insurance). The 19% VAT is calculated on the CIF value plus the duty.
For equipment with a CIF value of US$10,000, duty and VAT add up to US$1,900 with the agreement and US$2,614 without it. That is a US$714 difference that depends on one document.
The condition is origin. Equipment made in China and resold by a Florida distributor does not become American through the resale or by shipping from Miami. What counts is that the product meets the agreement's rule of origin.
Two cases are treated separately. According to Chilean Customs (Servicio Nacional de Aduanas), certain computers and data processing equipment enter duty-free whatever their origin. Used goods, on the other hand, carry a surcharge on the duty as a general rule, with exceptions: if you plan to bring in used equipment, ask your customs broker (agente de aduana) to confirm how much it is and how it applies under the agreement before you buy.
Who issues the certificate of origin and what must it say?
Under this agreement, no chamber of commerce or authority is involved. The certification is issued by the importer, the exporter or the producer, and whoever signs is liable for what they declare. If you sign it, ask the manufacturer for written proof of origin and keep it together with the certification.
What is mandatory is the content:
- Details of the producer, the exporter and the importer.
- A description of the goods that matches the invoice, and their six-digit tariff classification.
- The agreement rule under which the product qualifies as originating.
- Name, signature and date of the person certifying. The signature can be electronic.
It can be written in Spanish or English, and Customs publishes a suggested form. The certification is valid for four years and can cover several shipments of identical goods within a period of up to 12 months. Documents are kept for five years. What happens if it arrives late or with errors is covered in the certificate of origin guide.
Do the 2025 and 2026 tariffs make importing from the United States to Chile more expensive?
Not in the taxes you pay in Chile. The so-called reciprocal tariffs, with a base rate of 10% since April 2025, are charged on goods entering the United States. On top of that came a 12.5% surcharge on Chile, which the United States decided to apply as part of a Section 301 investigation, according to the statement that the Undersecretariat for International Economic Relations (Subsecretaría de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales, SUBREI) published on July 23, 2026. Both measures fall on Chilean products exported to the United States.
For those importing into Chile, Customs charges the same as before: duty according to origin, plus VAT. As of October 2026, official Chilean sources report no Chilean surcharge on US products. If a US manufacturer raises its price because its imported inputs cost more, you will see it in the supplier's quote, not in the Customs bill. Since the measures have changed several times, check the date of any information you read on this topic.
EXW purchases and the export filing in the United States
EXW means the seller makes the goods available at its warehouse, without loading them, and the export is contractually your responsibility. With FCA (free carrier), the seller handles the export filing and hands the cargo to the carrier you name. If the supplier agrees, FCA with the exact delivery address is the better choice. The logic is the same as when choosing between FOB and CIF: you control the main freight.
The filing is called EEI and is submitted in the AES system of US customs. It is mandatory when the value exceeds US$2,500 per product classification within the shipment, not per invoice total, and that value includes inland freight to the port or airport. It is filed at least 24 hours before loading on the vessel, and 2 hours before departure for air cargo. The exporter or an authorized agent can file it, and the system issues a confirmation number (ITN).
Some products are also subject to US export controls and may need a license. Ask the supplier to check this for your product before you pay.
Before you pay, settle five points:
- Where the product was made and whether it meets the rule of origin.
- The place of delivery: FCA with the exact address, or EXW with the supplier's commitment to provide the data for the export.
- Who files the EEI.
- Which Chilean permits the product needs.
- Who signs the certification of origin.
Ports, consolidation in Miami and transit times
When you buy from several suppliers, a warehouse in Miami can receive each purchase and consolidate them into a single shipment. Compare that setup with direct departure from the supplier's area, adding inland freight, receiving and storage. If the cargo does not fill a container, review the difference between a full container and consolidated cargo.
As a market reference as of October 2026, these are the published transit ranges for the leg to San Antonio or Valparaíso. They are not commitments from a shipping line, so ask for the actual schedule when you request a quote:
| Departure | Reference transit time |
|---|---|
| Miami and Port Everglades | 12 to 20 days for a full container; 15 to 25 days for consolidated cargo |
| Houston | 16 to 20 days |
| Los Angeles and Long Beach | 12 to 16 days |
| New York and New Jersey | 18 to 24 days |
| Air, Miami-Santiago | 2 to 4 days |
These are port-to-port days. You still need to add pickup at the supplier, waiting time at the warehouse, customs clearance in Chile and the truck to your warehouse.
Typical products and their permits
The agreement lowers the duty, but it does not replace Chilean permits.
| Product | Agency | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| New machinery | Electricity and Fuels Superintendency (SEC), Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) | Certification if it is an electrical product on the SEC list; wooden packaging treated and marked (ISPM 15, NIMF 15) |
| Used agricultural, forestry or earthmoving machinery | SAG | Must arrive clean, with no soil or plant residue; inspected on arrival |
| Medical equipment and devices | Public Health Institute (ISP) | Customs Destination Certificate (Certificado de Destinación Aduanera, CDA), whether or not health registration is mandatory |
| Technology and radiocommunication equipment | SEC, Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (SUBTEL) | Certification if the product is on the SEC list; for radiocommunication, SUBTEL as well |
There is no single permit for "spare parts": it depends on the function and material of each part. The details by agency are in the guide to SEC, ISP, SAG and SUBTEL permits.
What SICE does in this case and where its responsibility ends
SICE coordinates the operation through its network: the freight forwarder that moves the cargo from the United States, the insurance, the customs broker and the transport to your warehouse. Before shipment, it contacts the supplier and reviews the invoice, packing list, certification of origin and transport document. The export declaration is filed by the exporter or its agent in the United States, the import is processed by the customs broker in Chile, and the permits are granted by the SEC, the ISP or the SAG. The United States is one of the usual origins of the imports SICE coordinates.
Frequently asked questions
If I buy a product made in China in the United States, do I pay 0%?
Not under this agreement. Origin is defined by where and how the product was made, not by where it was sold or where it was shipped from.
Can I sign the certification of origin myself?
Yes, the agreement allows it. You are liable for what you declare, so ask the producer for written proof of origin and keep it.
How long does it take by air?
As a market reference as of October 2026, 2 to 4 days between Miami and Santiago, not counting pickup, customs clearance and delivery.
Official sources (in Spanish)
- SUBREI: Chile-United States FTA. Entry into force and tariff reduction.
- BCN: Customs Resolution 342 of 2015. Data the certification of origin must contain, and suggested form.
- SUBREI: public statement on US tariffs, July 23, 2026. 12.5% surcharge on Chile. The 10% base rate appears in the "Reciprocal tariffs" section of the same site.
- U.S. Census Bureau: Foreign Trade Regulations quick guide. US$2,500 threshold and EEI deadlines.
- ISP: CDA for medical devices without health registration. Entry procedure.
- SAG: Resolution 3,103 of 2016, used machinery. Cleaning and inspection conditions.
If you already have a quote from a US supplier, send it to us and we will prepare the free complete quote: the total landed cost delivered to your warehouse, in writing, with estimated duties and VAT. You can also write to us on WhatsApp at +56 9 9872 6863.
